Lebanon, the county seat,
is the largest city in Laclede County with a population of 9,983. It was
named in honor of a prominent minister's hometown of Lebanon, TN. Benjamin
B. Harrison was one original proprietor of the town site and he would
be proud today of this progressive town. The current United States Senator
from Missouri, Christopher "Kit" Bond, has declared Lebanon
the "Aluminum Boat Capital of the World." Six boat manufacturers
as well as several companies that manufacture boat related products have
their home in Lebanon.

The Laclede County Historical
Society Museum at 262 N. Adams next to the courthouse is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. Open to the public May through October,
it was originally built to house prisoners and as the home of the sheriff.
Other interesting places to visit include Bennett Springs, a State Park
just minutes from Lebanon that provides beautiful scenery, great fishing,
and other recreational opportunities. There are a variety of motels, a
bed and breakfast, fast food, restaurants, shopping, antiques, and nearby
attractions such as Lake of the Ozarks and Osage Beach Outlet Mall, all
making Laclede County a pleasant place to visit while digging up dead
relatives! The Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 417-588-3256,
address 500 East Elm, Lebanon, MO 65536.

The Bennett Spring area
is a beautiful place to visit about 12 miles west of Lebanon. Acquired
in 1924 by the State of Missouri, great scenery, camping sites, hiking,
picnicking areas, and trout fishing make it one of the most popular parks
in Missouri. It was first settled in 1844 when James A. Brice came from
Illinois and camped by a big spring which emptied into the Niangua River.
Mr. Brice homesteaded this land and built a mill. The post office of Brice,
Missouri was established and named for Mr. Brice. Later, another mill
was built by another Illinois man named Bennett. Both mills washed away.
Peter Bennett and Anna Brice, James Brice's only daughter, married; they
built another mill called Bennett's Mill. Anna inherited her father's
land upon his death, combining the two families properties. When the Bennett
Mill burned in the late 1800's, the family leased the property out. Peter
and Anna's two children, Sherman and Josie, sold the property in 1924
allowing this scenic area to become one of Missouri's first state parks.
Motels, camping sites, canoe rentals, and restaurants are easy to find.
Bennett Spring's address is Lebanon and the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce
includes Bennett Spring.

The small community of Conway, population 629, lies southwest of Lebanon
about 12 miles. Christen Hanson, a train engineer, named this town laid
out in 1869 by the railroad company after the first engineer to go through
the town after the rails were laid. Irvin and Knight opened the first
store about 1869. Hanson is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Conway. For
am interesting link with Conway, including current issues of the "Conway
Chronicles" that has a 75 Years Ago column. Conway's zip
code is 65632.

Phillipsburg, population
170, zip code 65722. Phillipsburg was named after Rufus Phillips who is
buried at Twilight. According to his tombstone, he founded Phillipsburg
in 1850. Phillips was born in Keene, New Hampshire and graduated from
Hancock Academy in 1843. He was an educator and surveyor.

Eldridge, zip code 65463
began around 1884 when John Owensby opened the first store. Lynchburg,
zip code 65543, and Falcon, zip code 65470, have post offices. I'm not
sure of the populations, but they are small.

Other smaller populated
places include Twin Bridges, population 44, Pease, Orla, Drew, Nebo, Morgan,
Lyons, Russ, Brush Creek, Winnipeg, Oakland, Drynob, Brownfield, Sleeper,
Prosperine, Hazelgreen, and Dove. Competition, also known early as Newburg,
is located on the Gasconade river.

Other nearby towns
in neighboring counties include Buffalo in Dallas County, Marshfield in
Webster County, Waynesville in Pulaski County, Camdenton in Camden County
and Hartville and Grovespring in Wright County.